Preservative auxiliary material for food

Abstract

This invention aims at providing an auxiliary material having a high preservative effect, whereby the deterioration due to oxidation and putrefaction caused by molds (i.e., the most serious problems relating to the qualities of foods) can be effectively prevented without using any chemically synthetic substances such as preservatives or antioxidants. Thus the gist of the present invention resides in a preservative auxiliary material obtained by treating white sweet potato (Simon) with a synergist followed by drying.

I claim: 
     
       1. The method for preserving food products which comprises adding thereto a preserving effective amount of a powdered white sweep potato having the same of lpomoea batatas Lam, which sweet potato has been contacted with a synergist selected from the group consisting of citric, tartaric, ascorbic, malic and organic acids or mixtures thereof followed by drying. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein said sweet potato comprises the tuberous root of the sweet potato. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 wherein said sweet potato comprises the foliage of the sweet potato. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 wherein said sweep potato comprises both the tuberous root and the foliage of the sweet potato. 
     
     
       5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the honey is included with said synergist. 
     
     
       6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said synergist includes a combination of citric acid, tataric acid, ascorbic acid, malic acid and organic acids. 
     
     
       7. A food product with improved preservation properties comprising the unpreserved food product together with a preserving effective amount of a powdered white sweet potato having the name of lpomoea batatas Lam, which sweet potato has been contacted with a synergist selected from the group consisting of citric, tartaric, ascorbic, malic and organic acids, or mixtures thereof, followed by drying. 
     
     
       8. The preserved food product according to claim 7 wherein said sweet potato comprises the tuberous root of said sweet potato. 
     
     
       9. The preserved food product of claim 7 wherein said sweet potato comprises the foliage of said sweet potato. 
     
     
       10. The preserved food product of claim 7 wherein said sweet potato comprises both the tuberous root and the foliage of said sweet potato. 
     
     
       11. The preserved food product of claim 7 which additionally includes honey. 
     
     
       12. The preserved food product of claim 7 wherein said synergist includes a combination of citric acid, tartaric acid, ascorbic acid, malic acid and organic acids.